Question 1

How does the prefix jafn- change the meaning of the adjective here, and why isn't there a word for "as" in the sentence?

Accepted Answer

The prefix jafn- attaches directly to an adjective to mean "equally" or "just as". While you would use og (as) if you explicitly stated the comparison (like jafnerfið og áður meaning "as difficult as before"), here the comparison is simply implied by context. It means they are equally difficult as each other, or as another unmentioned thing.

Question 2

Why does the adjective end in -erfið instead of the default masculine -erfiður or the common neuter singular -erfitt?

Accepted Answer

The adjective must agree with samtöl (conversations), which is the noun it describes. Because samtöl is a neuter plural noun in the accusative case, the adjective takes the neuter plural accusative form, which is erfið. So the compound becomes jafnerfið.

Question 3

Kynslóðabilið means "the generation gap". Why doesn't the word for generation (kynslóð) get a definite article too?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic compound nouns, only the very last part of the word takes the definite article suffix. The word is made of kynslóð (generation) and bil (gap). To say "the generation gap", you only attach the neuter definite article -ið to the final noun, resulting in kynslóðabilið.

Question 4

What case is þessi samtöl in, and what dictates that case?

Accepted Answer

It is in the accusative case. The verb gera (to make or do) generally takes an accusative direct object. In this specific "make [something] [adjective]" sentence structure, þessi samtöl is the direct object receiving the action of the verb.

Kynslóðabilið gerir þessi samtöl jafnerfið.

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